Removable tray and cover lift assembly



1970 c. E. BENDER EI'AL 3,537,189

REMOVABLE TRAY AND COVER LIFT ASSEMBLY I Filed 001;. 14, 1968 INVENTOR.

CHARLES E. BENDE'R TAYLOR N. THOMPSON DOUGLAS 8. FRASER Wm" BY 9 6 411W.

ATT Y.

United States Patent 3,537,189 REMOVABLE TRAY AND COVER LIFT ASSEMBLY Charles E. Bender, Taylor N. Thompson, and Douglas S. Fraser, New Paltz, N.Y., assignors to The Virtis Company, Inc., Gardiner, N.Y., a corporation of New York Filed Oct. 14, 1968, Ser. No. 767,158 Int. Cl. F26]: 25/10 US. Cl. 34-237 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A tray assembly consisting of a removable bottom, frame and cover. Means is provided to releasably support the tray cover on the underside of a stoppering plate in a chamber-type freeze dryer. Means is also provided to permit the bottom to be removed to permit the containers in the tray to contact the freeze dryer shelf directly. In such condition, the tray cover is maintained suspended over the frame which confines the containers.

This invention relates to improvements in tray assemblies and, more specifically, is directed to a new and improved tray having a novel cover adapted to maintain the tray contents in a sterile condition during handling.

In freeze drying, serum, vaccines, blood and like products are placed in bottles, vials or like containers and subsequently frozen in a generally uniform layer around the inner circumference of the container. This is commonly referred to as shell freezing. After completion of the freezing step, if the containers are to be freeze dried in batches, they are placed in a chamber-type freeze dryer and subjected to a vacuum with a controlled heat input to cause sublimation.

Where many containers are involved, it is common practice to use a tray or similar means to permit easy handling of each batch. One form of tray assembly is shown in the patent to Seligmann, Jr. et al. No. 3,243,049. Unfortunately, no means is provided to protect the vials or containers from bacteria during handling and positioning in the freeze dryer or during freeze drying. As one would expect, entry of bacteria into the vial or container could render the container contents useless.

The present invention relates to a new and improved tray assembly which permits the benefits of direct shelf contact by the containers while maintaining them protected against contamination by a cover. Means is provided on the container to cooperate with means carried on the underside of the movable stoppering plate to maintain the cover positioned around the containers which are being freeze dried. The containers may be stoppered under vacuum and removed while still covered by the tray cover.

It is an object of this invention to provide a new and improved tray and cover lift assembly which will serve to maintain the tray contents in a sterile condition throughout handling before, during and after freeze drying.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a new and improved tray assembly which will cooperate with means carried on the underside of the stoppering plate in a freeze dryer to permit the tray cover to be moved and held positioned over the top of containers undergoing freeze drying to maintain sterility thereof.

It is a still further object of this invention to provide a new and improved tray assembly which facilitates easy handling of containers for freeze drying without impairing the sterility.

Objects in addition to those previously set forth will become apparent upon reference to the accompanying drawings and following description.

3,537,189 Patented Nov. 3, 1970 In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of the tray assembly of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the tray assembly shown in FIG. 1 with containers shown in full elevation;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the tray of FIG. 2 on installation on the shelf of a freeze dryer and in interlocking relation with the spaced stoppering plate; and

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 3 after removal of the bottom, showing the tray cover positioned during the freeze drying process before stoppering.

Referring now to FIG. 1, reference character 10 indicates a tray assembly consisting of a bottom tray section 11, bottomless frame 12 and tray cover 13. The bottom tray 11 consists of a tray-like member with a bottom panel 14 surrounded on three sides by side walls 15 and 16 and an end wall 17. The end opposite the end wall 17 is open for reasons to become apparent. The rectangular frame 12 is bottomless, having end walls 20 and side walls 22 and 23 The rectangular frame is dimensioned so as to fit within the tray-like bottom member 11. The tray cover 13 is formed with depending side walls 25 and 26 and end walls 27 and 28 (FIGS. 24). A top panel 29 joins the sides and has a top plate 30 which projects laterally, forming a pair of flanges 31' and 32 extending along each of the side walls 25 and 26. The double thickness of material provides good strength for stoppering. The lower edges of the side walls 25 and 26 are formed with flanges 32 and 33 which rest on corresponding flanges 34 and 35 formed on side walls 15 and 16 of the tray 11. The end wall 17 is formed with a laterally projecting flange 35 which is folded downward as at 37 to provide a grip to facilitate removal and insertion of the bottom tray 11.

In use, the tray assembly 10 has the bottomless frame 12 interfitted in the bottom tray 11. Containers of material to be freeze dried, such as those indicated at 40 and 41 in 'FIG. 2, are positioned in the tray 11 within the bottomless frame 12 after shell freezing is completed. Split stoppers 42 and 43 are partially inserted to permit the frozen product in the containers 40 and 41 to undergo sublimation. The tray cover 13 which may be sterilized is positioned over the subassembly formed by the bottomless frame 12 and tray 11 with the flanges 32 and 33 abutting flanges 34 and 35 on the tray. As can be seen in FIGS. 2 and 3, the side walls 25 and 26 of the tray cover 13 overlap the side walls 22 and 23 of the bottomless tray to prevent the cover 13 from sliding relative to the bottom tray 11.

When the tray cover 13 is positioned as shown, the containers 40 and 41 are protected against contamination by bacteria even though the environment in which the tray is stored or carried is non-sterile. When freeze drying of the container contents is desired, the tray is carried to a freeze dryer of the chamber type having heated shelves with movable stoppering plates. Freeze dryers of this type are known, having been sold by the assignee of the present invention. Typically, these chambers are provided with a shelf of the type shown at 44 in FIG. 3. A stoppering plate 45 is positioned above the supporting shelf 44 and includes means of known type (not shown) to move the stoppering plate 45 toward and away from the shelf 44 to permit stoppering under vacuum. The stoppering plate may be moved by a lead screw or fluid motor, depending upon requirements. Such practice is well known in the art. The shelf 45 is provided with angle brackets 46 and 47 which form guideways to receive the lateral flanges 31' and 32' carried on the tray cover. In installing the tray in the chamber between the shelves 44 and 45, the stoppering plate is positioned relative to the shelf 44 as shown. As is well known in the art, the shelf 44 is provided with a suitable heating means for heating the containers 40 and 41 during freeze drying to permit sublimation to occur.

After the tray assembly has been positioned asshown,

the bottom tray 11 is removed to permit the containers 40 and 41 to come into direct contact with the shelf 44. Upon removal of the bottom tray 11, the guides '46 and 47 become effective to hold the top cover 13 suspended over the containers 40 and 41. if desired, the stoppering plate 45 may be elevated by the techniquedescribed,

In the condition shown in FIG. '4,',the container contents are warmed directly by the shelf-44 and the vapor can escape in the gap between the bottomless frame 12 and the tray cover 13. The gap may be adjusted by ad-' justing the stoppering plate;

It is to be appreciated that bacteria which may have been in the air or in the chamber will not be deposited on the container since the flow of gas is outwardly and gravitational deposition is impossible due to the sterile cover 13. Upon completion'of the freeze drying step, the stoppering plate is moved downward so 'that the cover engages .the split stoppers 42 and 43 and forces them into their respective containers 40 and 41. Sealing under vacuum with engagement only.by a sterilized member is possible with this novel arrangement. Thus, sterility of the container contents is assured. 'The stoppering plate may be elevated to the condition shown in FIG.'3 and the bottom tray; 11 slid under the containers 40 and 41 :and the assembly sterilely removed as a' unit as shown in FIG. 2 with the exception that the stoppers are fully seated in the containers. 1

It can be appreciated from consideration of the foregoing that a sterile environment is maintained throughout the freeze drying process and handling which is incidental before and after. The novel tray assembly is of simplified form which makes it readily manufactured. The stoppering plate is modified by the inclusion of the guides 46 and 47 and functions to protect the containers from contamination throughout the freeze drying process.

Upon a consideration of the foregoing, it will become obvious to those-skilled in the art that various modifications maybe made without departing fromthe invention embodied herein. Therefore, only such limitations should be imposed as are indicated by the spirit and scope of the' each other to permit stoppering of containers carried in said tray while said container are under vacuum, said tray assembly including a bottomless frame, a bottom tray having an end wall and vertical side walls, said side walls being spaced apart for reception of said bottomless frame with a sliding fit, a cover positioned over said bottomless frame and supported on said side walls on said bottom tray, and means on said tray cover. for interlocking engagement with said stoppering plate to maintain said tray cover suspended over said bottomless frame after removal of said bottom tray thereby permitting freeze drying of materials disposed in said containers. i"

2. The combination defined in claim 1 wherein said means on said cover for interlocking with saidstoppering plate comprises a pair of laterally projecting flanges on opposite side margins of said tray cover for cooperation with guide members carried on the underside of said stoppering plate.

3. A sterile tray assembly particularly adapted for use said bottom tray, a removable cover overlying and supported by said frame to protect the contents of said tray during handling, and means on said cover to permit at tachment of said cover to a stoppering plate in said freeze dryer whereby said cover will be suspended above said frame when said bottom'tray is removed.

4. The sterile tray assembly of claim 3 wherein said means to permit attachment to a stoppering plate in a freeze dryer comprises a pair of laterally projecting flanges formed on opposite margins of said top cover.

1 5. The sterile tray assembly of claim 3 wherein said bottomless frame has side wall members projecting above the side walls on said bottom tray to interlock with said removable cover.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,292,865 8/1942 Boddy 312-246 XR 3,243,049 3/ 1 966 Seligmann et al. 211l26 3,286,366 11/1966 Seligmann 345 XR FREDERICK L. YMA'IITESON, Primary Examiner H. B. RAMEY, Assistant Examiner 

